Root and Tuber improvement project makes giant stride
The Techiman Zonal Co-ordinator of the Root and Tuber Improvement Marketing Project, has commended International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) for providing credit facilities for stakeholders of the Project.
This, Mr George Osei-Asibey said, had helped to promote the production and marketing of the crops.
He made the commendation when he addressed more than 100 stakeholders of the Project at a forum at Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region at the weekend.
The forum was aimed at sharing ideas to address the challenges that faced the stakeholders and how to improve upon the successes chalked out since the Project started in 2004.
Mr Osei-Asibey said since the establishment of the Project IFAD and MOFA had continued to give credit facilities under the Micro Enterprise Fund (MEF) to farmers in the cultivation of cassava, yam, cocoyam and sweet potato to ensure increased production.
He urged farmers of the Project to open accounts with the commercial banks to benefit from the facility to expand their activities.
He advised yam farmers to embrace the mini-set yam farming method, which he said was the modern system of obtaining yam seeds to expand their farms.
Mr Mac Lawrence Ahiadu, Nkoranza South District Director of Agricultural Services said his outfit had started yam demonstration farms at Bibiani and Wagadougu.
The Service has also constructed modern yam storage barns at Brahoho, Dandwa, Bibiani and Akumsa-Domase to protect the commodity against pests.
The District Director urged the farmers to shun the outmoded system of farming and adhere to the advice of Agricultural Extension Agents to record improved and better production and enhance their financial status.
Mr Richard Okoe, Project Officer of Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank, advised farmers who had taken loans from the banks to repay on schedule to maintain the trust and confidence of their bankers for more support.
He asked beneficiary farmers of the Project to form groups to facilitate their easy access to the MEF credit facility to improve their economic activities.
Source: GNA